Anoka-Hennepin Suicide District Still a Hotbed for Anti-Gay Myth and Lies

In an excellent article by Andy Birkey, the truth about the controversial Minnesota Anoka-Hennepin School District emerges, as one where anti-gay myth and bullying on the part of ignorant right wing ‘Bachmannesque‘ Christian community, prevails. “The controversy of whether LGBT students should even exist in the Anoka-Hennepin School District has roots extending as far back as 1992. And it seems that after multiple suicides of LGBT youth, a high-profile lawsuit by 6 bullied LGBT students, a takeover by the Departments of Justice and Eduction, conservative Christians are still trying to gain ground and root out all mentions of LGBT people from the classroom and anti-bullying policies,” notes Birkey.

On Monday night, that controversy continued with conservative Christian parents claiming that Matthew Shepard was a drug-dealer whose sexual orientation had no factor in his torture and murder, and that Harvey Milk was a sexual predator who approved of mass suicide. At the heart of the latest controversy is a set of recommendations by an anti-bullying task force — put into place by the Departments of Justice and Education — that came up with 5 recommendations for creating a safe school environment.

Amongst those recommendations was one that did not sit well for the conservative strong-arms:

Recommendation 3: Honor and celebrate the contributions of diverse people and families in our community, country, and world, including the LGBT community. In an effort to affirm and celebrate the diversity represented by district students, families, and employees, the Task Force recommends Anoka-Hennepin Schools recognize, affirm, and assess specific LGBT activities including, but not limited to, continuing to support student-led Gay Straight Alliance clubs; hosting school-related family nights for our diverse populations, including LGBT families and LGBT students and their parents; and creating public displays honoring LGBT history month each October beginning in 2014.

Tiffany Strabala notes as per Birkey’s article:

Strabala then claimed that Harvey Milk was a sexual predator who backed mass suicide:

“Harvey Milk is another person who is often celebrated in LGBT history month. He is held up as a hero toyoung sexually confused boys. The truth however is hidden from students. Harvey milk was a reported sexual predator of teenage boys as well as promoter of Jim Jones the man who led the massacre of hundreds in Jonestown. LGBT history is not reliable it will lead to LGBT indoctrination and undermine any true study of history.”

However there are some parents, even those who do not have LGBT kids, but who have experienced harassment at the hands of religious bigots trying to bully their kids into Jesus school. One such parent, Melissa Thompson, who has done an enormous amount of work challenging the Board over th years to step up to the plate for all children, was vocal at this week’s Board meeting and expressed her support:

Melissa Thompson

“District parent Melissa Thompson asked the board not to take the side of religious bigotry.

I’m here again to speak against bullying and religious bigotry in the district. I do so not just for my own kids, but for all kids who, despite all the PR and claims of progress, are still dealing with bullying and religious bigotry on an ongoing basis in our schools,” she said. “Hearing all this outrage over the recommendations that promote kindness and acceptance is really upsetting. Seeing these values attacked as bad things boggles the mind. Seeing them attacked by a member of the the very task force that drafted them is concerning.”

Thompson was referring to Parents Action League member Bryan Lindquist who also sits on the anti-bullying task force. Lindquist and PAL had previously advocated the inclusion of “ex-gay” therapists on school grounds.

Melissa Thompson continued, “The idea that a sitting task force member formed specifically to combat bullying and LGBT bias would publicly ask the school board to exclude or leave out this tiny little group of people simply because their existence is in conflict with his religious beliefs is by definition itself bullying at least according to district policy 514 sec 3 subs 2.”

“This bullying is not only being done by someone on the task force but also a current staff member with direct access to kids who wrote an awful letter to the editor in the ABC Newspapers just last Friday.”

Thompson was referring to a letter by Laurie Thompson, who frequently pens letters to the editor that condemn LGBT people. In one case saying, “Homosexual activists and their allies are aggressively targeting younger and younger children through ‘anti-bullying’ laws, policies and curricula.”

And in another, writing that LGBT-inclusive anti-bullying policies “violate children with sexually explicit curriculum.”

Melissa Thompson concluded, “How can you expect this community to take you at your word when you claim that you respect all kids and families when you allow bullying by your own representatives and employees. If you give into the mindset that teaching respect, acceptance, and kindness are somehow bad things by rejecting them and rejecting all of the recommendations, then you are telling bullied students in your district, you are saying, ‘Sorry kid, you can’t vote but they can.’ When is enough going to be enough. Please accept and adopt and implement all five recommendations.”

School Bible Group connected to outside Ministry – with a mission to change “every campus for Christ;” students instructed not to give up until all join, causing student harassment. By Melanie Nathan, April 23, 2012 The Anoka-Hennepin School District in Minnesota may find itself, yet again, at the center of a storm and this one […]

By Melanie Nathan, (Minneapolis, MN, July 21, 2011)—The National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR), the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), and Faegre & Benson, LLP, filed a federal lawsuit today challenging the alarming anti-gay harassment in schools within the Anoka-Hennepin School District as well as the district’s “gag policy” that prevents teachers from discussing issues […]

July 21, 2011,Melanie Nathan, NCLR and the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) filed a federal lawsuit today challenging the “gag policy” at Minnesota’s Anoka-Hennepin School District that prevents school staff from talking about lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender issues, and creates an environment where LGBT students are relentlessly bullied. The lawsuit was filed on behalf […]

The Following are Articles written by Melanie Nathan at GAY U.S.A. the Movie and BLOG Anoka-Hennepin School District Letter Surfaces seems to Denounce Settlement . April 13th, 2012 “If the district back pedals or falls short or refuses to implement these changes in good faith, we will be back in court.” Kate Kendell, NCLR in […]